When I travel to a new destination, I approach it in two ways: on the one hand I make myself familiar with what it is all about and what I want to see. But not too much, because what for me is the essence of travel is to be surprised by unexpected places, names and sights which beckon to be explored.
That’s what happened to me when I heard about the Flower Passage (map) in Istanbul’s Beyoglu district. It sounded colourful, fragrant, vibrant and plain nice, so off I went without consulting...

... of Calle Florida and Avenida Córdoba, at the heart of downtown Buenos Aires, Galerías Pacífico has to be the most architecturally beautiful Shopping center in Argentina.
It was built in 1891, designed to resemble the Bon Marche in Paris, France. It was the major Shopping mall in Buenos Aires until 1945, when the building was taken over by the state-run railroad company and fell into disuse and disrepair.
In the early 1990´s it was awarded to a private company as part of the overall privatization...

I have a confession to make… when it comes to sweets, I have a huge sweet tooth. Chocolates, caramels, soft and gooey, crispy or chewy, I don’t care, I love it all! That is what makes Goofy’s Candy Co. one of my favorite shops in Downtown Disney (map) .
This wonderful store carries a large variety of candies and special treats sure to satisfy your every craving. Pre-packaged shortbread cookies, crackers, coffees, teas and hot chocolate mixes line several walls of the brightly...

... Escape Balloon Adventure, A Balloon/Biplane Adventure by California Dreamin’, and D&D Ballooning.
Next, head to the Old Town for some Shopping and to grab a bite for lunch! Modeled after the historic wild west of the 1880s, Old Town Temecula is a mix of historic buildings and upscale shops and restaurants. With everything from Granny’s Attic antiques to Truffles & Lace Tea Parlor to The Promenade in Temecula, there is sure to be something for every shopper!
In the afternoon,...

Spring is the perfect time for changing your wardrobe and freshening up your apartment’s interior. So clear out your tired threads, sweep away the dust bunnies, and tear down those fraying posters. In Manhattan’s West Side, the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood encompassing West 34th up to West 59th Street, and 8th Ave. over to the Hudson River, contains Manhattan’s highest flea market density.
The Annex/Hells Kitchen Flea Market (39th St between Ninth and Tenth Aves) ...

If there’s one thing I hate about Shopping abroad it is when all I can find is the same international brands with the same choices that I could find at home. Any souvenir I really treasure has been found at an off the beaten path location, a shop that I stumbled upon often when I was lost or was just wandering without a destination in mind.
When it comes to Dublin Shopping, you don’t have to go home with a sweater made in the Aran islands (although these are pretty cool!) to find something...

Looking for something free and fun to do this Friday? The Fillmore Art Walk in San Francisco will be held this Friday, April 23, 2010 from 6p.m. – 12 a.m. The event is free and includes performances and the work of local artists and fashion designers displayed in Fillmore Street restaurants and clubs, as well as public street art and outdoor music performances.
Fillmore Street boasts some of the city’s most famous shops and restaurants, most housed in Victorian buildings. Filled with unique stores,...

Buckets of fiery red tulips, mauve hyacinths and golden daffodils cluster the stalls. Sweet scents mingle and fill the passage. You will see tourists clutching maps and asking each other “is this it?” The answer is yes. They have found the floating flower market but were expecting something larger and grander.
After reading recommendations in tourist brochures and guidebooks, the floating flower market can be a bit of a disappointment. To begin with, the market is only 300 metres long and you...

Where once you used to hear, “would you like paper or plastic?” there is now a trend that is thankfully catching hold in Shopping venues across the United States. I am talking about the trend of customers bringing their own reusable tote bags on their Shopping trips.
Made of durable material, these original bags were generally solid colored and often stamped with the logo of the store where you purchased them. Many of these bags now offer new trendy designs so shoppers can not only...

Divanyoglu is a street. The name, meaning ‘Way of the Council’ comes from the fact that during the times of the Ottoman Empire, the ministers and members of the sultan’s council used this road to arrive at Topkapi Palace.
On horseback of course, accompanied by their entourage and in full regalia. Today’s visitors and citizens of Istanbul alike who use this main thoroughfare of Sultanahmed on a daily basis may wear trainers and backpacks or suits and laptop cases, but it’s still the...

... too early to shop for mom, right?
Starting from Halsted St. and heading west on Armitage Ave., you will find some of local Chicagoans’ favorite Shopping haunts, including:
Lori’s Shoes, 824 W. Armitage Ave. (map it) – Chicago’s most impressive collection of designer shoes, sandals and high heels. Mom will look like a serious fashionista after an afternoon at Lorie’s.
All She Wrote, 825 W. Armitage Ave. (map it) – Everything you need to send stylish greeting cards (also a great...

... can talk to the farmers and producers directly. This is a great way to learn more about the goods, and pick up some handy cooking tips.
For the best Shopping experience, make sure you get there before 9 am. After this the lines tend to get long, especially at the most popular stands like Toby’s Estate Coffee.
An early start is the perfect excuse for grabbing breakfast on the go. Choose from freshly squeezed juices, fruity danishes, egg and bacon rolls, or even a wagyu beef sandwich. If that doesn’t...

A destination for real super heroes or wannabes like the rest of us, the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company is truly surreal. Everything is tongue in cheek from cans of courage, custom capes, secret identity kits, to wall-climbing suction cups.
Muscle and Speed of Light Potions Sold at Brooklyn Superhero Supply Store
Want to try on a cape before buying? Just stand on a special platform they have set up complete with a high-velocity wind tunnel and test out how it will look in action. Posters...

Whether you’re a fan of mysteries, or haven’t really got a clue about the genre, you’ll find something to love and take home with you at Seattle Mystery Books. Located in the Pioneer Square area, the bookstore focuses on mystery books and authors and stocks both hard covers and paperbacks, new and used.
The store is affiliated with the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association, and defines a mystery as a literary structure that is a work of fiction, yet also includes crime (frequently...

Maybe you have already visited Topkapi Palace and got stars in your eyes from gaping at the incredible jewels exhibited in the treasury. Among them the famous Spoonmaker Diamond which has a history all of its own.
Or else, you have proceeded to the room where the richly embroidered clothes are displayed, worn by the sultans, the sultanas and high ranking officials. Of course, this being a museum, all these marvellous pieces are behind thick glass and can only be looked at, never mind touched.
The...

Oxfam does a sterling job of recycling unloved clothes and using the proceeds for charitable causes in the developing world. It’s definitely gone upmarket in recent years, with designer outlets far removed from the mothball-smelling rag-and-bone style of charity shop we all know and avoid. And now it’s opening up on Oxford Street!
A more usual Oxfam sight - knitting for an Oxfam campaign
In fact, it’s a purely temporary Oxfam that will be opening within the hallowed precints of...

You will be hard pressed to indulge all your senses in a better place than Istanbul’s spice market, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar.
Istanbul's vaulted Spice Market
History of the Spice Market
Misir Carsisi is the second oldest and biggest covered market in Istanbul after the Grand Bazaar. It was completed in 1660 and formed part of the adjacent Yeni Mosque. The idea was to rent out market space and use the proceeds for the upkeep of the mosque.
During the Ottoman Empire, most spices were...

‘In harmony with yourself and your environment‘ – the slogan of the one and only eco-living establishment in Madrid tells us all that it represents.
Amidst the bustling metropolis, Ecocentro seeks to provide a respite for urban dwellers. Especially for those in search of an alternative and natural way of life, the center hopes to promote health and quality of life.
Whenever I feel unhealthy and need a change in lifestyle, I head down to the center and sift through its organic products...

According to Mother Nature Network San Francisco is the number two “greenest” city in America. But with the opening this week of Ecohaus showroom at 1090 Bryant Street it’s about to get just a bit greener. Ecohaus, which begins its grand opening celebration in San Francisco on April 10, is a one-stop shop for homeowners and building professionals seeking to invest in the best eco-friendly building and finishing materials that combine style, durability, quality and value.
Among the...

The bulbous-eyed frog wanted to leap up, but couldn’ t. It was attached to a grass-green rubber boot. A plastic sheep pushed a dinosaur aside and a spotted cow tumbled to the floor. Finger puppets looked longingly at customers’ hands. The Beestenwinkel, Toy Beast Collectors’ Shop, is a store turned animal house.
“I can’ t believe this,” said a greying man shuffling along the jam-packed shelves.
“What?” I asked.
“A cigarette lighter in a toy shop, what a disgrace.”
The Beestenwinkel...